Leading From The Heart by Scott Joan

Author:Scott, Joan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WM Publishing
Published: 2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

The Caretaker

Samantha Ashton

There are so many parts to leading a group of people, it’s often hard to keep it simple. I have narrowed my key points to four areas: direction, accountability, approachability and problem solving.

I have titled this chapter, ‘The Caretaker’, as I have always felt it was my place to support the functions of the department and the people in it, while I was in post in my previous roles. The aim to always ensure I leave a team or department in a better place than when I first arrived.

To write this chapter I asked colleagues and ex employees for feedback on how they felt I was as a leader. I was keen to start with, ‘How do I actually lead?’ Not the idealistic view in my head. I, personally think that good leaders are made, made from the environment you work in and the people you mix with.

In essence the atmosphere we create around our teams (culture).

I have had my biggest successes as a line manager from getting it wrong and having really solid people and training during my early years of managing people. That mix of correct process and human element has made me the manager and hopefully leader that I am today.

Direction

What do you want to achieve? What is needed to get the job done? Whatever the job or task it all starts with an end goal. By having your goals first, you can work backward with what is needed to be achieved by your deadline. Nothing good was ever achieved on your own, you will soon become very busy if you do not delegate to your team.

Once you have your own view of the goal and what is to be achieved you can start to create a visual picture that you will use to communicate and motivate your team to go along on that journey with you.

Knowing your team well really comes alive at this point, I have come to learn that in any role you need to really take your time to get to know your team and your department. I think it’s important to have a mix of knowledge about your team skills that you observe, feedback from others and knowing what makes them tick. When I say tick, what motivates them to come to work every day, what do they like and dislike about the role? Knowing them better will allow you to know how to play to their strengths and how do develop them as an individual.

Using this plan or goal allows you to communicate direction and movement. Share what worked well, any learns, or changes needed to that wider plan. In turn celebrating the small steps each day to help you develop security and belonging in the team. Everyone has a place and takes ownership for their part in that goal, finding the direction and movement for themselves to create a sense of purpose and belonging.

This also allows you to resolve any performance issues as you will have a very clear plan for all of your team that you communicate and check in on regularly.

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